Vic Cosmo

Stop and Smell the Oranges: Class Trip to Sicily

As part of our curriculum in Exploring Italian Culture and Language for my study abroad program, we took a deep dive into the roots of Italian cuisine and how gastronomy has embedded itself into Italian culture from working class kitchens to high-performing restaurants in major cities. Throughout the class, we were able to do trips to local restaurants and even live cooking classes. Our coolest experience, in my opinion, was the three day trip we took to rural Sicily, where we were invited to visit and learn from the wonderful chefs at Anna Tasca Lanza Cooking School. 

This trip began with a RyanAir flight, as many do, and after landing in Palermo, we were packed into a twenty person caravan and driven three hours west. We stopped briefly to bask in one of the most striking sunsets, complete with wind that could make anyone feel as though they were in a movie. 

My friend, Anna, in the sunset

We arrived shortly after sunset, and had our introductions to the team, watching their documentary Amaro or "bitter." This school specializes in not only sustainable practices within cooking but also the infusion of Italian culinary roots in both fusion and classically-known dishes. Following the documentary, they prepared our dinner, and we all sat at our twenty person table mouth-agape at the smells that came out of the kitchen. That first dinner set the tone for what would be an incredibly transformative weekend. Also, a brief shout out to our lovely company.

We spent the night in a nearby hotel, and after a restful night, returned to the grounds of the school for our first formal event: a visit to a ricotta production farm! We got to have a stellar breakfast—no joke, I still think about this bread, butter, and jam—and watch as the sheep were milked. Then, we got to watch and aid in the production of the ricotta itself, which smelled interesting but tasted amazing. We each got to practice our spooning technique before moving on to giving the farm's puppies unending attention—naturally. 

We returned to the school and got to help with the process of making lunch—rolling out handmade pasta, cutting up artichoke, and frying sage (which was an insane appetizer, shockingly soooo good). Lunch felt almost triumphant, we'd all gotten to appreciate the flavors so much more by contributing to them, and it generated a sense of shared accomplishment that really brought us together. Outside of bringing us together, lunch also gifted us with skills that will last a lifetime. I hope to teach my parents and friends how to make pasta, and will most definitely be prepping more fried sage!

After our meal, we had a brief cheese tasting. If you know me (which I assume you don't so maybe I'll just fill you in), you know I hate cheese. I don't know, I think it's the texture. But, as they say, when in Rome—though we were in Palermo, I still think the same rules apply—so I decided to take part in the tasting. It was fun! I still don't love cheese though. 

We did a brief garden tour, and got to taste the sweetest oranges I've ever tasted. The day was perfectly overcast, the blue peeking out through the view of the trees, the hills gently sloping behind them. This trip was a dream. I got to chat with one of my friends on a quiet bench in the garden, and that feeling of serenity felt so satisfyingly lasting.

Finally, we returned to the hotel. Our dinner was hosted there, and we got to sit alongside locals and visitors, even learning classic Sicilian dances—thanks to the many insistent grandmothers that got us up and out of our seats. The night was full of laughter. The trip had come to a perfect ending.

On the last morning, we said our goodbyes to this hidden gem and to our new friendships, and as our caravan drove away, the bus sat quiet, each of us trying to find a way to solidify each moment into a memory. 

Yours in Staring Out the Window, 

Vic Cosmo